Posts tagged ‘herbalists’

And as this year winds down, I find myself spending more time inside making dinners with friends, sipping cordials and (of course) watching movies. One that I’ve recently (and finally!) seen is Juliette of the Herbs. It’s a movie about Juliette de Bairacli Levy, the Gypsy herbalist of Europe and pioneer of holistic veterinary medicine.

It’s a gorgeous film that chronicles her years of traveling, curing and learning from the nomads and peasant people of the places she visited. She authored many books–her herbals were very influential to American herbalists, and her poetry is divine.

I never got to meet Juliette. She passed in 2009. But in watching her speak in this film I’m touched by the brightness and simplicity of her spirit. Her laugh is very sweet and youthful, and her eyes are so kind. People like her inspire me. I am reminded of the simplicity of life that I long for, but don’t allow myself. She’s an example of being–not necessarily doing all the time. We live in a society where we feel that we have to keep up with everyone else…and we’re very fast. I definitely live this pace myself, and I wonder if that’s how I really want to live on this planet. Working with the healing plants draws me back to the simplicity of Nature and the abundance of healing. I, like many others (I’m sure), need this more than ever. In this film, Juliette embodies this way of life. She’s an incredible light.

She was a true lover of animals, and the way she interacts with them brings tears to my eyes. I haven’t had the pleasure of reading her herbals for animals, but as I’m now a feline parent, they’re at the top of my list.

If you ever get a chance, make some tea and watch this film. In closing, I’ll post one of her poems below. Enjoy! Read more

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About Goldroot Botanical Medicine

Renee Davis MA is a researcher, educator, and product development coordinator in botanical and mycological medicine. She owns Goldroot Botanical Medicine and works for a medicinal mushroom company in Washington state. Previously, she was a clinical herbalist at the Olympia Free Herbal Clinic for 5 years and an Associate Scholar with the Center for World Indigenous Studies.